As a linguistic expert, I am well-versed in the intricacies of language distribution and usage around the globe. When we speak of the most spoken language in the world, it is important to distinguish between the number of native speakers and the total number of speakers, including those who speak the language as a second or foreign language.

In 2017, according to the Ethnologue (20th edition), the most spoken language by the number of native speakers was Mandarin Chinese. This is due to the fact that China has the largest population in the world, and Mandarin is the official language spoken across the country. The Sino-Tibetan family, to which Mandarin belongs, is one of the major language families in Asia.

However, if we consider the total number of speakers, including non-native speakers, English takes the lead. English, being an Indo-European language and part of the Germanic branch, has spread globally due to historical colonization, international business, and its status as a lingua franca in various fields such as science, technology, and aviation. The widespread use of English in education and as a second language has contributed to its large number of speakers worldwide.

It is also worth noting that Hindustani, which includes both Hindi and Urdu, is another language with a significant number of speakers. It is part of the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European family and is spoken widely in India and Pakistan, making it one of the most spoken languages in South Asia.

In addition to these, Spanish, also an Indo-European language and belonging to the Romance group, is spoken by a large number of people, primarily in Spain, Latin America, and the United States.

To summarize, while Mandarin Chinese has the most native speakers, English is the most spoken language when considering the total number of speakers, both native and non-native. This is largely due to its global influence and the fact that it is often taught as a second language in many countries.

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Ethnologue (2017 20th edition)RankLanguageFamily1EnglishIndo-European, Germanic2Mandarin Chinese (incl. Standard Chinese)Sino-Tibetan, Sinitic3Hindustani (Hindi/Urdu)Indo-European, Indo-Aryan4SpanishIndo-European, Romance24 more rowsread more >>